Dementia Cases Set to Triple by 2060 as Income Gaps Fuel Risk Factors

According to a study published in November 2025, the number of Americans living with dementia is expected to more than triple by 2060, reaching over 21 million. Researchers have discovered a concerning link between income level and the risk of developing dementia later in life.

The study, which analyzed data from over 5,000 U.S. adults, found that people with lower incomes and those from minority groups were more likely to have risk factors associated with dementia, such as high blood pressure, hearing loss, depression, and a sedentary lifestyle. In fact, one in five cases of dementia among older adults living below the poverty line may be tied to vision loss and social isolation.

"While our results are exploratory and do not show cause and effect, improving access to vision care and reducing social isolation among older adults could potentially have a major impact in those living below the poverty level," explained Dr. Eric Stulberg of the Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College.

The researchers also noted that even after accounting for income differences, factors like diabetes, obesity, vision loss, and physical inactivity were still more strongly linked to historically underrepresented racial groups, such as Black Americans, Mexican Americans, and non-Mexican Hispanic Americans. Addressing these disparities could be crucial in reducing the burden of dementia in the coming decades.